Meta's Former AR Hardware Head Joins OpenAI to Lead Robotics

Caitlin Kalinowski, previously head of Meta’s augmented reality glasses project, Orion, announced Monday that she is joining OpenAI to lead robotics and consumer hardware. Kalinowski, an experienced hardware executive, shared the news on LinkedIn, noting her excitement about guiding OpenAI’s new robotics efforts and forming partnerships aimed at integrating AI with the physical world.

Kalinowski, who led Meta’s AR hardware team since March 2022, was instrumental in developing Orion—a prototype that was showcased at Meta’s Connect conference. Before her work at Meta, Kalinowski was part of Apple’s hardware team, where she contributed to designing MacBooks.

New Role and Vision at OpenAI

In her LinkedIn post, Kalinowski explained her mission at OpenAI: “In my new role, I will initially focus on OpenAI’s robotics work and partnerships to help bring AI into the physical world and unlock its benefits for humanity.” Her position aligns with OpenAI’s recent hiring of robotics engineers, signaling a renewed interest in advancing AI-driven hardware.

Possible Collaboration with Jony Ive: Kalinowski may also collaborate with Jony Ive, the former Apple executive now leading his own design firm, LoveFrom. Ive recently announced a partnership with OpenAI to develop a next-generation AI hardware device, aiming to create “a computing experience that is less socially disruptive than the iPhone.”

OpenAI’s Expanding Hardware Ambitions

This move comes as OpenAI revives its robotics research team after a four-year hiatus. Previously, OpenAI’s robotics team developed a self-learning robotic hand that could grip objects on its own, but it shifted focus to software development in 2018. Now, with Kalinowski at the helm, OpenAI aims to bring multimodal AI models into hardware for various industries.

AI-Powered Partnerships: OpenAI’s software is already making its way into other hardware applications. Apple, for instance, is planning to integrate ChatGPT into its iPhones, while robotics company Figure is utilizing OpenAI’s technology to enable natural speech capabilities in its humanoid robot, Figure 01.

Looking Ahead

Kalinowski’s move to OpenAI highlights the company’s expanding focus on bridging AI with physical technology. Her extensive hardware experience could pave the way for transformative devices that integrate OpenAI’s powerful models. With projects underway alongside Jony Ive and potential partnerships on the horizon, OpenAI is poised to push boundaries in consumer and robotics hardware.

Editor’s Note: This article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AiNews.com, with writing, image, and idea-generation support from ChatGPT, an AI assistant. However, the final perspective and editorial choices are solely Alicia Shapiro’s. Special thanks to ChatGPT for assistance with research and editorial support in crafting this article.